More than 20 percent of Americans age 65 and older don’t drive, according to an analysis of the federal government’s National Household Travel Survey by AARP’s Public Policy Institute.

Soon, even more people will be clamoring for rides as the country’s 78 million boomers, now ages 49 to 67, shed their car keys. (And men typically outlive their driving days by seven years; women outlive theirs by 10.)

According to Transportation for America, an advocacy coalition, by 2015 more than 15.5 million Americans 65-plus will live in areas where public transportation service is poor or nonexistent.

ITNSarasota and Lighthouse of Manasota are pleased to announce that the Jerome & Mildred Paddock Foundation has funded the Independent Travel for the Visually Impaired Program, a strategic partnership between the two organizations.

The funding allows ITNSarasota to provide door-to-door transportation to Lighthouse clients who attend classes critical to their future success. This collaboration is a new venture that will begin this year and continue as long as needed.

A recent report from the National Center on Senior Transportation revealed that because of seniors’ needs, the transit demand is at the highest level in 50 years!

And the need seems to be rising in Davenport, the rest of the Quad-City area and the surrounding region.

Statistics show that seniors are living longer, and, because of chronic mobility conditions, declining eyesight and the challenge of making snap judgments in busy traffic, it becomes necessary to find other means of getting around.